WEBVTT INTERNAL REVIEW HEARING.HATCH CAN FILE AN APPEAL. NEW THIS MORNING, FOURDAVID: TEENAGERS ARE FACING DRUGTRAFFICKING CHARGES, AFTERALLEGEDLY SELLING POT-LACED CANDY AT ELLSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL. POLICE SAY 19-YEAR-OLD ADAM BRADSHAW BOUGHT THE JOLLY RANCHERS AT A MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY AND GAVE THEM TO THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ELLSWORTH'S POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE FEARS THIS KIND OF THING WILL BECOME MORE COMMON WHENRETAIL MARIJUANA STORES OPENUP HERE IN MAINE. HE ALSO SAYS ITS TOUGH TO TELLWHICH CANDIES ARE LACED WITHPOT AND WHICH ARE NOT.>> WHERE THE CHALLENGE REALLY COMES INTO PLAY FOR US IN LAW-ENFORCEMENT IS THEIDENTIFICATION AND THEPOTENTIAL PROSECUTION OF THESEPARTICULAR ITEMS. DAVID: ALTHOUGH THE POT WAS PURCHASED

Four teenagers have been charged with aggravated drug trafficking after pot-laced Jolly Ranchers were distributed at Ellsworth High School.Police said 19-year-old Adam Bradshaw, of Ellsworth, bought the candies at a medical marijuana dispensary and gave them to three current Ellsworth High School students. Their names are being withheld because they are minors.Ellsworth Police Chief Glenn Moshier says he fears this will become more commonplace when retail marijuana stores open up."Where the challenge really comes into play for us in law enforcement is the identification and the potential prosecution of these particular items," Moshier said. "You know, if you look at these candies that were taken from the students at the high school, and had them on a table next to a whole bunch of other similar hard candies, there's no way to identify those that are laced with marijuana.""We place the highest priority on the safety and security of our students and staff. The biggest concern for me is that something like this actually happened, where students felt comfortable bringing this substance into the school," said Dan Higgins, Ellsworth School Department Superintendent. "We take that very seriously and we are issuing, and have issued, disciplinary consequences that are consistent with our policy."Although the product was purchased legally, when transferred to a juvenile it constitutes drug trafficking.Moshier said these are serious felony charges and hopes to send a message to the community this won't be tolerated in schools.

ELLSWORTH, Maine —

Four teenagers have been charged with aggravated drug trafficking after pot-laced Jolly Ranchers were distributed at Ellsworth High School.

Police said 19-year-old Adam Bradshaw, of Ellsworth, bought the candies at a medical marijuana dispensary and gave them to three current Ellsworth High School students. Their names are being withheld because they are minors.

Advertisement

Ellsworth Police Chief Glenn Moshier says he fears this will become more commonplace when retail marijuana stores open up.

"Where the challenge really comes into play for us in law enforcement is the identification and the potential prosecution of these particular items," Moshier said. "You know, if you look at these candies that were taken from the students at the high school, and had them on a table next to a whole bunch of other similar hard candies, there's no way to identify those that are laced with marijuana."

"We place the highest priority on the safety and security of our students and staff. The biggest concern for me is that something like this actually happened, where students felt comfortable bringing this substance into the school," said Dan Higgins, Ellsworth School Department Superintendent. "We take that very seriously and we are issuing, and have issued, disciplinary consequences that are consistent with our policy."

Although the product was purchased legally, when transferred to a juvenile it constitutes drug trafficking.

Moshier said these are serious felony charges and hopes to send a message to the community this won't be tolerated in schools.